Compare towns
Westminster vs Fairlee vs Dover vs Putney
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Westminster has the most kids (18.2% under 18).
Fairlee has the oldest population (median age 56.2).
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+60%).
Putney has the youngest population (median age 37.2).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Westminster | Fairlee | Dover | Putney |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,999Highest |
1,066Lowest |
1,466 |
2,622 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+1.1% VT: +2.8% |
+60%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.1% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 53.5±3.7 24% above VT |
56.2±8.7Highest 30% above VT |
53.5±8.3 24% above VT |
37.2±5.2Lowest 14% below VT |
| Fairlee and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.2%±4.7Highest VT: 17.9% |
12.2%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
10.2%±5.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
15.4%±4.1 VT: 17.9% |
| Westminster and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 27.6%±6.8 VT: 21.4% |
33.4%±5.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
29.5%±6.2 VT: 21.4% |
18.1%±3.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Fairlee and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 46.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
46.5% VT: 43.8% |
48.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
48.6% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±3.1 VT: 7% |
5.3%±3.7 VT: 7% |
2.5%±2.9Lowest VT: 7% |
20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $71,491±$4k 12% below VT |
$74,760±$10k 8% below VT |
$52,313±$7kLowest 36% below VT |
$79,706±$18kHighest about the VT average |
| Putney and Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $273,800±$35kLowest 14% below VT |
$274,200±$39k 13% below VT |
$332,900±$55kHighest 5% above VT |
$300,000±$44k 5% below VT |
| Dover and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $916±$126 26% below VT |
$1,083±$242Highest 12% below VT |
$670±$49 46% below VT |
$508±$482Lowest 59% below VT |
| Fairlee and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,063Lowest 19% below VT |
$5,617Highest 11% above VT |
$4,510 10% below VT |
$5,313 5% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.2%±7.5 VT: 48.4% |
89.2%±71.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
38.1%±17.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
54.2%±19.4 VT: 48.4% |
| Fairlee and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.8% VT: 10.1% |
14.7% VT: 10.1% |
7.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
16%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.2%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.9% VT: 73.2% |
81.1% VT: 73.2% |
72.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min about the VT average |
24 minHighest 3% above VT |
22 min 6% below VT |
18 minLowest 24% below VT |
| Work from home | 27%±6.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
15%±7.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
23.2%±11.1 VT: 16.9% |
16.9%±6.5 VT: 16.9% |
| Westminster and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #53 of 70 in VT | — | — | #32 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Bellows Falls Union High School District #27 · Westminster School District | Rivendell Interstate School District | River Valleys Unified School District #73 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 |
| High school in town | Bellows Falls Union High School | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.6 |
— | — | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → |
VT average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.